GUWAHATI: The GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit (GIEU), Assam, has arrested Trishna Barman from Siliguri, West Bengal, in connection with an alleged fake input tax credit (ITC) racket involving more than ₹25 crore, officials said on Monday, July 20.
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A resident of Barama in Assam's Baksa district, Barman is accused of creating a network of fake firms to issue fraudulent tax invoices and facilitate the illegal circulation of fake ITC.
According to officials, she had been absconding from Assam and was apprehended from a hotel in Siliguri after a three-day search operation during which she frequently changed locations to evade arrest. The operation was carried out by the GST Intelligence and Enforcement Unit, Assam, with assistance from the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police and was led by officer Monuj Kr Dowari.
Barman holds an MBA degree from Bangalore.
Her brother, Surajit Barman, who is also alleged to be involved in the multi-crore fake ITC scam, remains absconding. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.
"The investigation has revealed that several other persons are suspected to be part of the fake invoicing network and are now under the department's radar," the source said.
The accused was produced before the competent court in West Bengal for transit remand and is expected to be brought to Guwahati on Tuesday, July 21, for further investigation.
This is the first instance of officers of the Assam State GST Department arresting an accused outside the state, making it a significant milestone in the department's enforcement efforts against GST fraud.
The arrest is being viewed as a major success in the ongoing crackdown on organised fake invoicing and fraudulent ITC networks operating across states.